Hawaii Guard The first Hawaii National Guard unit that would join the more than 30,000 reservists mobilized for homeland defense and the war on terrorism was called to active duty today.
unit called
18 soldiers will help beef up the
state's homeland defensesBy Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.comEighteen soldiers belonging to the Hawaii Army National Guard's Division Rear Operation Center were placed on active duty and assigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks to beef up Hawaii's homeland defense program, military sources told the Star-Bulletin.
The federal component of homeland defense forces in Hawaii is under the command of Lt. Gen. E.P. Smith, commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific and Joint Rear Area coordinator.
The state component is controlled by Maj. Gen. Edward Correa Jr., state adjutant general and head of the Hawaii Army and Air National Guard.
The Army National Guard unit called to active duty belongs to the 103rd Troop Command, which is located in Pearl City.
It provides support services, such as intelligence, for infantry units.
Lt. Col. Palacido Valenciano is the unit's commander.
This IS THE FIRST TIME since the Vietnam War that a Hawaii Army National Guard unit has been activated. In 1968 the 29th Infantry Brigade was placed on active duty and reported to Schofield Barracks. Although the 29th Brigade never went to Vietnam as a unit, its members saw combat as replacements.
No Hawaii Army National Guard unit was placed in federal status for wartime duty during the 1991 Desert Storm campaign.
However, there was partial mobilization of the Hawaii Army National Guard's 117th Public Affairs Detachment for war in Bosnia in 1996. A year later, the 297th Air Traffic Control Squadron, a Hawaii Air National Guard unit, was partially mobilized. Hawaii Air National Guard traffic controllers were stationed in Hungary and controlled aircraft bound for Bosnia.
So far, no Army Reserve units have been activated here. However, individual Army reservists, as well as Navy and Air Force reservists, have been placed on active duty since the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks, including those on duty at state airports.
Total number currently called to active duty for the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 12,084; Naval Reserve, 3,400; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 12,722; Marine Corps Reserve, 333; and the Coast Guard Reserve 2,628. This brings the total Reserve and National Guard called to active duty to 31,167 from 271 units, 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and individual augmentees.
